Composite I-truss

Abstract

A composite I-truss is provided, that comprises a pair of top and bottom flanges and an extending intermediate web having a first end secured to the first flange and a second end secured to the second flange. Each flange comprises one or more longitudinal beams secured to the flange connectors. The web comprises at least a pair of flange connectors extending away from the flange and toward the web. The web comprises a plurality of linking struts located at a plurality of longitudinal positions along a length of the I-truss and connecting the flange connectors of the first flange to the flange connectors of the second flange.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A composite I-truss comprising:
 a first longitudinally-extending flange comprising at least two longitudinally-juxtaposed longitudinal beams; 
 a second longitudinally-extending flange spaced apart from, and extending in a same truss plane as the first longitudinally-extending flange and defining therebetween a web portion, the second longitudinally-extending flange comprising at least two longitudinally-juxtaposed longitudinal beams; 
 a web extending between and connecting the first longitudinally-extending flange and the second longitudinally-extending flange together, the web comprising a plurality of connecting elements, a first flange connector, a second flange connector, and a plurality of flange fastening assemblies,
 the first flange connector being secured to the first longitudinally-extending flange through a first set of the flange fastening assemblies extending through the first longitudinally-extending flange and the first flange connector, 
 the second flange connector being secured to the second longitudinally-extending flange through a second set of the flange fastening assemblies extending through the second longitudinally-extending flange and the second flange connector, 
 each one of the first and second flange connectors having a section protruding outwardly from a respective one of the first and second flanges in the web portion, 
 
 the connecting elements being positioned longitudinally at a plurality of longitudinal positions along a length of the composite I-truss and having a first end secured to the first flange connector and a second end secured to the second flange connector, wherein the first and second longitudinally-extending flanges are made from a different material than a material of the first and second flange connectors and a material of the connecting elements of the web. 
 
     
     
       2. The I-truss according to  claim 1 , wherein each one of the at least two longitudinally-juxtaposed longitudinal beams of the first and the second longitudinally-extending flanges comprises a plurality of longitudinally adjacent beam sections, adjacent ones of the beam sections having complementary end sections superposed to one another; and joining members superposed to the superposed end sections of the adjacent ones of the beam sections and secured thereto. 
     
     
       3. The I-truss of  claim 1 , wherein each one of the at least two longitudinally-juxtaposed longitudinal beams of the first and the second longitudinally-extending flanges comprises a wooden beam; and the first and the second flange connectors and the connecting elements are made of metal. 
     
     
       4. The I-truss of  claim 1 , wherein each one of the first and the second flange connectors comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart flange connectors having: a flange section secured to a respective one of the first and second longitudinally-extending flanges and extending between the at least two longitudinally-juxtaposed longitudinal beams of a respective one of the first and second longitudinally-extending flanges; and a web section protruding outwardly from the respective one of the first and second longitudinally-extending flanges and secured to a respective one of the first and the second ends of the connecting elements, wherein the first and second ends of the connecting elements are secured to the web section of a corresponding one of the flange connectors. 
     
     
       5. The I-truss of  claim 4 , wherein the flange section of the plurality of flange connectors comprises one of: a fixation plate comprising a flat body and at least one beam-facing surface, a L-shaped fixation member comprising a L-shaped body comprising two beam-facing surfaces, a T-shaped fixation member comprising a T-shaped body and three beam-facing surfaces, the respective flange section of the one of the plurality of flange connectors interposed between the at least two longitudinally-juxtaposed longitudinal beams of a respective one of the first and second longitudinally-extending flanges. 
     
     
       6. The I-truss of  claim 5 , wherein the flange section of the plurality of flange connectors further comprises at least one bolt extending normally from the at least one beam-facing surface, the bolt being insertable in an aperture defined in a corresponding one of the first and second longitudinally-extending flanges. 
     
     
       7. The I-truss of  claim 4 , wherein each one of the plurality of connecting elements comprises a linking strut and the linking struts of the plurality of connecting elements comprise at least one normally-extending strut extending substantially normal to the first and second longitudinally-extending flanges, and at least one diagonally-extending strut defining an oblique angle with the first and second longitudinally-extending flanges, the at least one normally-extending strut and the at least one diagonally-extending strut being configured in an alternating configuration. 
     
     
       8. The I-truss according to  claim 4 , wherein each one of the first and second flange connectors further comprises a mounting element extending longitudinally along the respective one of the first and second longitudinally-extending flanges and being secured to the web section of the corresponding one of the flange connectors. 
     
     
       9. The I-truss of  claim 4 , wherein the flange section of the flange connectors comprises a plurality of apertures to receive a respective one of the fastening assemblies therein and the flange fastening assemblies comprise: bolts extending through a respective one of the first and the second longitudinally-extending flanges and a respective one of the first and the second flange connectors; and nuts engaged with the bolts, outwardly of the respective one of the first and the second longitudinally-extending flanges and the respective ones of the first and the second flange connectors. 
     
     
       10. The I-truss of  claim 9 , wherein the at least two longitudinally-juxtaposed longitudinal beams of the first and second longitudinally-extending flanges comprise recesses defined therein and the flange fastening assemblies further comprise shear rings inserted in the recesses, the shear rings surroundings a respective one of the bolts. 
     
     
       11. The I-truss of  claim 9 , wherein the flange fastening assemblies further comprise an inner sleeve inserted in the at least two longitudinally-juxtaposed longitudinal beams of a respective one of the first and the second longitudinally-extending flanges and surrounding a corresponding one of the bolts extending therethrough. 
     
     
       12. The I-truss of  claim 11 , wherein the fastening assemblies comprise an inner shear ring inserted in an inner side of a respective one the first and the second longitudinally-extending flanges, in a corresponding one of the at least two longitudinally-juxtaposed longitudinal beams, and an outer shear ring inserted in a respective one of an outer side of a respective one the first and the second longitudinally-extending flanges, in a corresponding one of the at least two longitudinally-juxtaposed longitudinal beams, wherein the inner and outer sheer rings surrounds a corresponding one of the bolts extending therethrough. 
     
     
       13. The I-truss of  claim 12 , wherein the sleeve is formed as a single piece with the shear ring. 
     
     
       14. The I-truss according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second flange connectors are formed as a single piece with the plurality of connecting elements of the web, with the connecting elements extending continuously between the first and the second flange connectors. 
     
     
       15. A bridge defining a passageway along a bridge axis and comprising: a plurality of composite I-trusses, each one of the composite I-trusses comprising:
 a first longitudinally-extending flange comprising at least two longitudinally-juxtaposed longitudinal beams; 
 a second longitudinally-extending flange spaced apart from, and extending in a same truss plane as the first longitudinally-extending flange and defining therebetween a web portion, the second longitudinally-extending flange comprising at least two longitudinally-juxtaposed longitudinal beams; 
 a web extending between and connecting the first longitudinally-extending flange and the second longitudinally-extending flange together, the web comprising a plurality of connecting elements, a first flange connector, a second flange connector, and a plurality of flange fastening assemblies, 
 the first flange connector being secured to the first longitudinally-extending flange through a first set of the flange fastening assemblies extending through the first longitudinally-extending flange and the first flange connector, 
 the second flange connector being secured to the second longitudinally-extending flange through a second set of the flange fastening assemblies extending through the second longitudinally-extending flange and the second flange connector, 
 each one of the first and second flange connectors having a section protruding outwardly from a respective one of the first and second flanges in the web portion, 
 the connecting elements being positioned longitudinally at a plurality of longitudinal positions and having a first end secured to the first flange connector and a second end secured to the second flange connector, wherein the first and second longitudinally-extending flanges are made from a different material than a material of the first and second flange connectors and a material of the connecting elements of the web, 
 wherein the plurality of I-trusses is positioned horizontally and perpendicular to the bridge axis. 
 
     
     
       16. A web kit for assembling a first longitudinally-extending flange and a second longitudinally-extending flange to form an I-truss, comprising:
 a first flange connector having a flange section and a web section, the flange section being securable to the first longitudinally-extending flange with the web section protruding from the first longitudinally-extending flange; 
 a second flange connector having a flange section and a web section, the flange section being securable to the second longitudinally-extending flange with the web section protruding from the second longitudinally-extending flange; 
 a plurality of connecting elements, each one of the connecting elements having a first end securable to the web section of the first flange connector and a second end securable to the web section of the second flange connector; and 
 a plurality of flange fastening assemblies for securing a respective one of the first and the second longitudinally-extending flanges to a respective one of the first and the second flange connectors and a plurality of flange fastening assemblies for securing an end of a respective one of the connecting element to a respective one of the first and the second flange connectors; and wherein the connecting elements comprise linking struts, and the first and the second flange connectors comprises at least one of: fixation plates, L-shaped members, and T-shaped members, 
 wherein each one of the first and the second longitudinally-extending flanges comprises at least two longitudinally-juxtaposed longitudinal beams and the flange section of the first and second flange connectors is inserted between the at least two longitudinally-juxtaposed longitudinal beams of a respective one of the first and the second longitudinally-extending flanges. 
 
     
     
       17. The web kit for assembling the I-truss according to  claim 16 , wherein the connecting elements and the first and the second flange connectors are preassembled to define a web lattice. 
     
     
       18. The web kit of  claim 16 , wherein the web section of each one of the first and the second flange connectors further comprises a bolt secured to a flange-facing surface of the flange section of the first or the second flange connectors, the bolt protruding normally with respect to the flange-facing surface of the flange section.